Food tenderizing device



United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,271,490 7/1918 Servatius 2,244,952 6/1941 Kapelman 3,082,681 3/1963 Petersen Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Assislanl Examiner-Arthur 0. Henderson Allarney-Mason and Graham ABSTRACT: A syringe for injecting fluid into meat with a hollow probe mounted in a piston disposed in the lower of two compartments ofa container. The probe is fitted with two adjustably positionable stops to limit penetration of the probe and the fluid delivery stroke of the combined piston and probe, respectively.

! 4 45 F 2 1 e Mwzmv- J. PETE/2S COLLETTEIIP l6 2 1 INVENTORS BY Wm 14 T ToEA/E YS This is a division of our copending application Ser. No. 6l8,948. filed Feb. 27, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,483,810, issued Dec. l6, I969.

This invention has to do with flavoring, tenderizing, or preserving food, such as meat, and more particularly with a device for introducing flavoring, tenderizing or preserving fluid into meat.

Conventionally, seasonings, tenderizers and preservatives in granular or powdered form are sprinkled over food, such as meat, or fluid substances are used, but the substances do not penetrate the food product to produce the desired uniform effect. While the food product is sometimes pierced with a fork, or even pounded, these methods leave much to be desired in the results obtained.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved device which can be readily used to introduce a desired flavoring, tenderizing or preservative fluid into a food, such as meat.

Another object is to provide a device of the type indicated having a hollow probe through which the fluid is injected into the food together with means that can be adjusted to regulate the depth of penetration of the probe into the food.

Still another object is to provide a device of the type indicated which is capable of adjustment to regulate the amount of fluid that will be discharged upon each operation of the device.

A further object is to provide a device wherein the amount of fluid discharged can be readily ascertained by inspection.

Another object is to provide a device that can be readily disassembled sufficiently for washing.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description. Referring to the drawings:

FIG. I is a sectional elevational view of a device embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view on line 2-2 of FIG. I; I

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. I.

More particularly describing the invention, reference numeral 11 generally designates a container which in the form shown has a cylindrical body 12 formed of glass or a plastic that is preferably transparent. At its upper end the body is fitted with a cover or cap 13 that partially fits into the end thereof and can be removed when the container is to be filled or cleaned. The lower end ofthe body 12 is normally closed by an end cap 14 which has a central bore 15 receiving a hollow probe 16. The lower end cap is secured by a pin 17 on the body 12 and .l-slot 18 in the cap.

The probe 16 is provided with a fluid passage 20 which extends from the inner end ofthe needle to just short ofits outer pointed end 16 where the passage terminates in a lateral port 20. A piston 22 is firmly secured by any suitable means to the inner end of the probe and may be made of rubber or plastic and is shown as comprised of two main parts, 23 and 24, which are cemented together. A bore 25 in the piston receives the probe 16. Above this are counterbores 26, 27, and 28. A disk of plastic having crossed slits 3] is positioned in the counterborc 27 and serves to prevent seepage of fluid into the probe when the parts are at rest. The space in the counterbore 26 below the disk 30 allows for downward deflection of the segments of the disk under the pressure of fluid from above.

A partition 32 is fixed intermediate the ends of the body 12 and this is fitted with a downwardly opening flap or disk valve 33, that is normally yieldably held closed by a small coil compression spring 34. The partition is provided with an opening 35 above the valve, with an inner counterbore 36 in which the valve is received, and a main counterbore 37.

A compression coil spring 40 is interposed between the partition and the piston to yieldably urge the piston down against the end wall 14 formed by the member 14 and bearing washer 41 and 42 are provided at the ends of the 5 ring.

The probe IS fitted .with two stop co lars or abutments,

designated 44 and 45, respectively, each of these having a thumbscrew 46 or other means for securing the collar in adjusted position on the probe. The collar 44 serves to limit the stroke of the piston, while collar 45 limits penetration of the probe into the food F.

In the operation of the device, the cover 13 is removed and the space 50 above partition 32 or upper chamber of the container is filled with the desired fluid. The cover is then replaced and the fluid, which, byreason of its weight, overcomes the aforementioned small spring 34 and opens valve 33, will flow down through the valved opening in partition 32 into the lower chamber 51 below the partition, the cover having a small passage 13 for air to enter. The two stop collars 44 and 45 are then adjusted to limit the stroke of the piston and the amount of penetration of the probe and the device is ready for operation. The probe is forced into the food F, which we may assume to be meat, and penetrates the meat to a depth determined by collar 45. Further downward movement of the container causes the piston to rise in chamber 51, discharging a limited amount of fluid into the tissues of the meat through the probe, the amount being determined by the setting of the collar 44. The operation is then repeated at several other places throughout the body of the meat. It will thus be apparent that the device is easy to use, and effective for its intended purpose and that it can be readily disassembled for cleaning.

Although we have illustrated and described a preferred form of our invention, we contemplate that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the following claims.

We claim:

I. A device for injecting tenderizing and/or flavoring or other fluid into food or the like, comprising a cylindrical container having a closure at one end, a removable cover closing the other end of the container, a probe slideably mounted in and extending through the closure, a piston mounted on the inner end of said probe, said probe having an open fluid passage from its inner end to a region adjacent its outer end, a partition in said container between the ends thereof and having an opening therethrough, and a check valve openable toward said closure controlling said opening, said piston being between said partition and said end of the cylinder having said closure.

2. The device set forth in claim 1 in which a first adjustable abutment is provided on said probe for limiting penetration of the probe into the food, and a second adjustable abutment is provided on said probe for limiting the stroke of said probe and piston. 

